Why is Keurig flashing lights?

Keurig makers are the most budget-friendly and easy-to-use coffee machines. However, this doesn’t indicate that they are free of all problems; you may need to deal with an inappropriate signal like a Keurig flashing lights madly and refusing to work.

There could be a few common reasons why the Keurig light starts flashing. In this article, we focused on the most common Keurig light alerts and how to fix them, so you get back to brewing your morning drink as soon as possible!

What does Keurig Flashing Lights mean?

The main reason why the lights are blinking depends on the model of Keurig you have. However, here are the ten most likely reasons for Keurig lights flashing!

1. Keurig all lights flashing – The machine needs to be cleaned
2. Keurig descale light flashing – The machine needs to be descaled
3. The reusable K-cups are packed too tightly with coffee grounds
4. Blue light flashes when the water reservoir is low
5. The water filter is incorrectly installed
6. You are using distilled water
7. The water reservoir is not properly installed
8. Clock and power light flashing – K Elite
9. Frother light flashing – K cafe
10. Error in the system of your Keurig

Now, let’s discuss each of these reasons, their causes, and how to fix them.

1) Keurig all lights Flashing and not working

If all lights (add water, heat, and medium cup size buttons) on your Keurig coffee machine keep flashing, then there might be a problem with the Keurig water filter or the needle.

To fix that you have to clean your Keurig machine properly

Cleaning the Keurig water filters

• Remove and empty the water reservoir. Check for any blockage in Valves at the bottom of the unit and if found, remove it. 
• Make sure that the filter in the tank should be placed correctly in the holder.
• Fill the tank with water and put it back.
• Remove all cup capsules from the brew head. Run a water-only brew of 6-ounce cup size into an empty measuring cup. If you get exactly 6 ounces in the cup, your Keurig is ready to brew
• However, if not! Remove the charcoal or carbon filter present inside the water tank and run the 6-ounce water-only brew cycle again
• If you get the correct amount of water in the measuring cup then there must be some issue with the filter. Replace the Keurig water filter and your problem will be solved.
• However, If you are not using any filter or the correct volume was not measured when you replaced the filter, try brewing water only three more times.

Cleaning the Keurig needles

If you still don’t get the right amount, try cleaning the needle outlet and repeat the brewing cycle. Hopefully, your problem will be solved. You need a paper clip to clean the exit needles properly.

• Turn the machine off and remove the water tank
• Open the head of the machine and remove the K cup holder
• Straighten one end of the paper clip and clean the needle area by moving it around.
• Rinse the K cup holder with water properly.
• Also, clean the top needles with a paper clip.
• Assemble the machine again, Plug it and hopefully, the lights will stop blinking.

2) Keurig descale light flashing

Water used for brewing contains a mineral that causes limescale to build up in your machine, which eventually results in blockage and the descale light will start flashing.

The ultimate solution is to descale your machine immediately to get rid of this buildup. Once you descale your machine, the light will shut off automatically.

To descale Keurig follow these steps:

1- Fill the water reservoir with Keurig descaling solution and fresh water 1:1. Remove the charcoal water filter (if you are using it).

2- Press the largest cup size and keep doing until the water reservoir is empty.

3- After descaling, thoroughly clean the water reservoir with soapy water and fill it with fresh water.

4- Now run rinsing 2-3 rinsing cycles with fresh water only before brewing coffee.

Here you can find the descaling instructions for every Keurig model

Recommended descaling solutions for Keurig

	Universal Descaling Solution for Keurig	Highly Effective at an Excellent ValueSuitable for All Types of Machines	View on Amazon
	Coffee Machine Descaler and Cleaner	Powerful & VersatileCompatible with Any Machine	View on Amazon

If the descaling light stays on even after descaling Read a detailed guide on why Keurig’s descaling light stays on and how to fix it.

3) Using reusable K-cup – Red light Flashing

When you use a refillable K-cup and pack the coffee grounds too tightly, the red light on your Keurig coffee machine will start flashing.

If you pack a K-cup too tightly with too much coffee and tamp it too hard, water will not find a way to pass through. Keurig will interpret it as a blockage in the pipeline, and as a result, the descaling light starts blinking.

To fix this problem, stop filling the K-cup so tightly. By the rule of thumb, most reusable K cups are designed to hold only 9-11 grams of coffee so you should not go beyond that level

If the problem you are facing is not due to tightly packed coffee grounds, try to remove the pod to check if your coffee machine allows you to run a coffee brewing cycle without a pod.

If the machine runs without the pod you find the culprit. If it doesn’t, then your machine might have some other error.

Overfilling the coffee capsule might also cause leakages in the Keurig machine

4) Blue light flashing on Keurig when the water reservoir is low

A blue light flashing alert appears on the Keurig coffee machine when the water level in the tank is low or empty.

Fill the tank with freshwater (minimum optimum water level required for all K-cup coffee makers to work correctly) to resolve this problem.

If the water reservoir is low beyond the required level, the machine will not start at all.

However, if adding water doesn’t reset the blue light alert, try turning the machine on and off and it will solve your problem.

Always make sure that there is an adequate amount of water inside the tank, otherwise, it will also damage the water pump of Keurig

5) The water filter is incorrectly installed

Sometimes water filter is installed incorrectly, which causes the problem. However, this problem only occurs in the Keurig machines that have carbon filters present in the water tank

To resolve this problem:

• Take out the water filter and rinse it with water
• Put the filter at the bottom of the water tank correctly
• Set the timer dial to 1-2 months from today’s date to allow you to be replaced at the right time.

6) You are using Distilled Water

Some Keurig models (mostly Keurig 2.0 brewers) have sensors that detect the water level in the tank with the minerals present in the water.

So, when you pour distilled water into the tank, Keurig fails to detect it and the lights start flashing.

Bottled mineral water or filtered tap water is best for brewing coffee in Keurig. In my opinion, Distilled water should never be used in Keurig as it may interrupt the brewing process, and also the coffee brewed with distilled water is not as flavorful.

7) The water reservoir isn’t properly installed

When the water reservoir isn’t properly installed the lights on your Keurig will start blinking irregularly or your Keurig might give a prime error.

To solve this simply detach the water reservoir and install it back correctly.

If that doesn’t work the exit valve of the water reservoir might be blocked.

In that case, empty the water reservoir and wipe the exit valve with some brush or cloth to remove any accumulated debris.

8) Keuring Elite Clock and power light flashing

An error has occurred if your Keurig K-Elite coffee maker blinks the clock and the power button simultaneously.

All You need is to unplug the machine from the outlet, plug it back in, then turn on the power button. This may cause your clock to reset.

If it doesn’t solve the problem try resetting the machine to factory settings.

9) Frother light flashing in Keurig Cafe

There are two different frother alerts in the Keurig K Cafe.

If the light at the base of the frother is flashing, you may be trying to froth while the brewer is brewing coffee. Unfortunately, It is not possible to do so. The milk frother will start once the coffee is ready and the brewing is complete.

If all the lights at the base of the Keurig frother are flashing, there are three possible issues. 

• The whisk might not be attached properly to the frother 
• Check that there is enough milk in the milk frother 
• The milk frother might not be firmly attached to the base

Ensure that there is no such type of issue with your milk frother and the lights will stop flashing.

Read a detailed guide on Why Keurig frother isn’t working and how to fix it

10) Error in the system of Keurig

If your Keurig is blinking irregularly or stuck in the heating mode there might be some error in the system of your Keurig.

In that case, your best bet must be to reset the Keurig machine

How do you reset a Keurig to solve the flashing problem?

Sometimes, all you can do to solve the flashing problem is simply reset your Keurig brewer.

• Open and close the head of the machine. Remove any new or used k-cups from the machine.
• If that doesn’t work unplug the machine and let it rest for some time.
• Also, remove the water reservoir if your Keurig has a removable water reservoir.
• Now plug the machine back and your Keurig must be back to normal.

How to use the Keurig coffee maker correctly?

Keurig coffee machines are simple to operate when using pre-packaged K cups. However, problems can occur when you use your own coffee in Keurig with a reusable My K cup filter.

Here’s how you can use it properly:

1)Ensure the pod of Keurig isn’t full

Using too many coffee grounds to produce a stronger cup of coffee is not always a good idea. As this will clog your machine as water will not pass through the excess grinds.

By the rule of thumb, do not fill it beyond the required level, and as a result, the coffee will be brewed without any problem. If you want a strong coffee try a smaller brew size instead.

2)Ensure coffee is adequately grounded

Although coffee grounds for a drip machine may be used in a Keurig, medium or medium coarse grounds work better with a Keurig.

Too fine grounds can result in a muddy cup of coffee, on the other hand too coarse grounds will result in a watery cup of coffee as the water will rush too rapidly through the grounds

So make sure to ground your coffee adequately before brewing.

3)Use the machine’s smallest cup setting

Most Keurig machines can brew different cup sizes. The amount of grounds in the K cups or refillable cups does not increase as the cup size increases; instead, more water is used, resulting in a weaker cup.

If you love strong coffee brew a 6-ounce cup for the best flavor and if you want more, brew two 6-ounce cups instead of one larger cup.

Keurig machine Reviews

• Keurig K Elite review
• Keurig Duo plus reviews

Final Thoughts

We hope these tips have helped you fix your Keurig flashing lights problem.

The majority of the time, a blinking light on a Keurig machine indicates that the user has not maintained the machine properly by cleaning and descaling it on a regular basis.

However, if any of the solutions mentioned above fails to solve this error you should consult with Keurig customer support. They will definitely help you in fixing this issue.

FAQs

Related Keurig Guides:

• Why Keurig keeps turning off
• Keurig screen not working
• Keurig not brewing full cup